{"id":520,"date":"2020-10-05T09:04:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T00:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/your-guide-to-completely-in-the-canal-hearing-aids\/"},"modified":"2020-12-01T08:36:13","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T23:36:13","slug":"your-guide-to-completely-in-the-canal-hearing-aids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/your-guide-to-completely-in-the-canal-hearing-aids\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Completely In The Canal Hearing Aids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you find out that you need a hearing aid, one of your first concerns might be its visibility to others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a known fact that in the U.S. as many as one in four individuals that could benefit from the use of a hearing aid, aren\u2019t using one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You wouldn\u2019t think that a discreet hearing aid would be so significant as to be a deciding factor as to whether someone purchases a hearing aid, but a study has found that making a hearing aid virtually invisible increases the likelihood of someone purchasing one by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.truhearing.com\/more-resources\/the-pros-and-cons-of-invisible-hearing-aids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 &#8211; 40 percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This perceived stigma clearly plays a huge role in treatment access.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s a reason for this &#8211; feeling happy with the cosmetics of your hearing aid can tap into your overall treatment satisfaction. This means that if you are particularly bothered at the prospect of having a noticeable hearing aid it&#8217;s worth researching the specifications of some of the more discreet hearing aid types.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll be looking at Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids so you can get an idea of whether one might be a good fit for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#What_are_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> What are CIC Hearing Aids?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Are_CIC_Hearing_Aids_Any_Good\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Are CIC Hearing Aids Any Good?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Advantages_to_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.1<\/span> Advantages to CIC Hearing Aids\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Disadvantages_to_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.2<\/span> Disadvantages to CIC Hearing Aids\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Other_Types_of_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Other Types of Hearing Aids<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"What_are_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><b>What are CIC Hearing Aids?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the name suggests, Completely In the Canal (CIC) hearing aids sit completely within your ear canal, making them very small and discreet devices. Unless someone looks directly inside your ear, it won\u2019t be visible to passers-by.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CICs are custom-fit hearing aids because they are made from a mold that is taken from your ear canal. This means you\u2019ll find them comfortable and they won\u2019t move around inside your ear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do they work? Sounds are funneled down towards your ear canal. The CIC hearing aid processes and amplifies them to be sent down your ear canal to your eardrum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CICs are a little different from Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) hearing aids which rest in the second bend of the ear canal and can barely be seen at all, even if you\u2019re looking right into the ear.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Are_CIC_Hearing_Aids_Any_Good\"><b>Are CIC Hearing Aids Any Good?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anecdotal reports on CICs show them to be generally very well-liked by users, with people reporting that they can still hear <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearingaid.org.uk\/hearing-aid-types\/completely-in-the-canal-cic-hearing-aids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">natural sound<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and have no issues detecting sound directionality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Completely In the Canal (CIC) hearing aids have their advantages. For one, they\u2019re almost invisible (which many people normally see as their key benefit). This might be particularly important to you if you\u2019re young or feeling a little embarrassed about being seen wearing a hearing aid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second to this is the fact that CICs have an excellent comfort level. As CIC hearing aids are small and custom made, they should sit very naturally in your ear and not feel too burdensome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, CICs are acknowledged as effective hearing aids that provide you with a rather natural sound experience. This is because nothing is obstructing your outer ear, so sounds can still be collected here before moving towards the receiver and have some natural interaction with the eardrum.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also be able to hear where sounds are coming from for this same reason \u2014 the hearing aid sits far down your ear canal, leaving the outer ear unhindered in its vital functioning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Advantages_to_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><b><i>Advantages to CIC Hearing Aids\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These features lead to some further advantages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As CICs sit within your ear canal, manufacturers can\u2019t place controls on the aid itself. This means you need to make adjustments through an external controller such as a remote control or dedicated app on your smartphone. You might find this to be more discreet than adjusting the aid itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the CIC\u2019s small size, there is no bulky device blocking the use of your phone and you can talk naturally without having to maneuver around your device. This also means that you can wear headgear such as over-the-ear headphones and helmets as you normally would. This makes it easy to still take part in all your favorite hobbies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CIC\u2019s positioning also means that in comparison to other hearing aid types, you\u2019ll experience much less noise disruption from the wind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Disadvantages_to_CIC_Hearing_Aids\"><b><i>Disadvantages to CIC Hearing Aids\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All this being said, there are some notable disadvantages to CIC hearing aids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CIC\u2019s small size limits its features and power. This means that if you have severe or profound hearing loss, the CIC can&#8217;t accommodate the number of processors and the size of amplifiers needed to give you a high-powered hearing aid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also because of their size, you\u2019ll find that CIC\u2019s use incredibly small batteries and that you&#8217;ll need to change them frequently. Critically, this also means that they are only powerful enough to include basic technological features, reducing the number of useful functions that might be included in your device.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We mentioned before that you can control your CIC hearing aid through a remote or smartphone, but some people actually prefer having a control on the casing itself. As this isn\u2019t a possibility with these devices, it might be a reason for you not to make the purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be acknowledged that the CIC\u2019s positioning within the ear canal means that natural moisture from within the ear and potential earwax buildup can damage the hearing aid. As correct maintenance should stop this from happening or causing an issue, this shouldn\u2019t be a huge drawback for most people, but you should be aware that they require slightly more care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By filling the ear canal (and being too small to include a vent) CIC hearing aids can cause occlusion in the ear. This is characterized by the feeling of your own voice seeming very loud or that your ear is blocked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you were born with an ear abnormality or your ear has an unusually shaped ear canal a CIC might not fit you. If this is the case you will need to choose another option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a custom made design and micro-components are key to CICs, you might find them to be a more expensive option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, these hearing aids can challenge your dexterity (and present problems if you\u2019re visually impaired) due to their tiny size. Fiddly actions you\u2019ll need to carry out include changing the batteries, device insertion and removal, and cleaning, so if you\u2019re worried about this chat to your audiologist about its suitability for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Other_Types_of_Hearing_Aids\"><b>Other Types of Hearing Aids<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people are extremely happy with their CIC hearing aids, especially if you are after an effective yet discreet device and don\u2019t have severe hearing loss. If you don&#8217;t have issues using technology and have good dexterity and vision, even better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different hearing aids are more appropriate for some users with specific needs and lifestyles, so be sure to check out all your options before making a financial commitment. Your audiologist will be the best authority on what will be a good device for you, so make sure you take advantage of their years of expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/healthy-body\/hearing-aids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hearing aid types<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include Behind-the-Ear (BTE), Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE), In-the-Ear (ITE), In-the-Canal (ITC), CROS\/BiCROS, and body-worn hearing aids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any further questions, again, run these by your audiologist or physician who will be able to chat things through with you in-depth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn about the different types of hearing aids, read more <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><b>The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearingaid.org.uk\/hearing-aid-types\/completely-in-the-canal-cic-hearing-aids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.hearingaid.org.uk\/hearing-aid-types\/completely-in-the-canal-cic-hearing-aids<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.truhearing.com\/more-resources\/the-pros-and-cons-of-invisible-hearing-aids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.truhearing.com\/more-resources\/the-pros-and-cons-of-invisible-hearing-aids\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/healthy-body\/hearing-aids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/healthy-body\/hearing-aids\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starkey.com\/blog\/articles\/2017\/01\/compare-hearing-aid-styles\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.starkey.com\/blog\/articles\/2017\/01\/compare-hearing-aid-styles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Completely in the canal hearing aids are one of the most discreet hearing aids on the market, but does this come with any disadvantages? Find out more in this guide on CIC hearing aids.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/your-guide-to-completely-in-the-canal-hearing-aids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your Guide to Completely In The Canal Hearing Aids - Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Completely in the canal hearing aids are one of the most discreet hearing aids on the market, but does this come with any disadvantages? 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